Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) reaffirmed his support for military action against the drug cartels in a recent appearance on James T. Harris's Conservative Circus radio show, saying, "If there's one war we should be fighting, it's to defend our homeland."
At the beginning of the month, the Trump Administration launched a drone strike against a boat in the Caribbean, which was alleged to be operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA) members smuggling drugs. The legality of the White House's actions has sparked debate, even as the infamous Venezuelan gang has been designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
If there’s one war we should be fighting, it's to defend our homeland."
Congressman Hamadeh talks to @JamesTHarris about his support of military action against the Mexican Cartels. pic.twitter.com/9VBjOh3nI5
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) September 8, 2025
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During his discussion with Harris, Rep. Hamadeh said, "The moment I first ran for office, and I was running for Attorney General [of Arizona], I was one of the first people in the entire country to call for the classification of the drug cartels as a foreign terrorist organization so we can go a lot more aggressive with them."
Rep. Hamadeh further noted that the boat struck by a drone "was carrying a lot of drugs, a lot of fentanyl, too," which he added "has destroyed the communities."
The Arizona Congressman further claimed that "it is not just some drug overlord trying to make money," but that "it is also the Communist Chinese are providing them with the manufacturing capabilities to produce these drugs, so it is a war."
Hamadeh then commended President Trump for restoring the Department of Defense's original name, the Department of War, saying it is "because we never lost a war when it was named the Department of War."
On the same day as the drone strike, the Arizona Congressman warned of the Chinese relationship with the cartels in an X post, writing, "The Treasury's FinCEN discovered that Chinese networks have been using our country to launder billions of dollars for the Mexican cartels. This is only part of a continued & concerted effort from a hostile CCP regime to undermine America's public safety."
